Cover photo for Eric Johnson, Ph.D's Obituary
Eric Johnson, Ph.D Profile Photo
1946 Eric 2022

Eric Johnson, Ph.D

January 6, 1946 — October 27, 2022

Silverthorne, Colorado

Eric D. Johnson died on Thursday, October 27, 2022 at the age of 76. After a nearly two-year journey with pancreatic cancer, he died peacefully at home in Silverthorne, Colorado.

Eric was born on January 6, 1946 in Buffalo, NY, to parents Sigurd and Mary Johnson. He was the oldest of three siblings. In his youth, Eric was an avid wrestler and a proud Eagle Scout with an unfailing sense of direction and a consistent record of encountering rain on camping trips. Eric had a passion for writing, and he loved to read and attend plays. This led him to St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN, where he received a bachelor's degree in English, and Syracuse University, where he received a master’s degree.

Interest in humanity and a lifelong concern for social justice led Eric to a degree of Divinity at Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, NJ. In 1970, while a student at seminary, he met Sue Ellen Page, who was then an undergraduate student at Westminster Choir College. The two were married at Orangewood Presbyterian Church in Phoenix, AZ on July 12, 1972.

In the early years of their marriage, Eric and Sue Ellen collaborated to create and publish more than a dozen songs for childrens’ choirs and adult choirs. Eric wrote the texts, and “Susie” wrote the music. A favorite among these is “Every Morning’s Sun,” a song for children’s choir, published by Choristers Guild.


Ev’ry morning’s sun follows every evening’s night

And ev’ry day I know that it will come.

Ev’ry day of the year, I know it will appear,

Even though the clouds may hide it some.

Eric later became a specialist in family therapy, having earned a PHD from Rutgers University in 1999. He opened a family therapy practice, Lawrenceville Family Therapy, where he helped children and adults for 20+ years. He published many journal articles and presented at psychology conferences throughout the United States. He later became a Professor in the Graduate and PHD program for therapy at the Hahnemann School of Medicine of Drexel University.

Eric and Sue Ellen spent most of their marriage in Princeton, NJ, where they raised four children, Amanda, Luke, Ben and Mandy. They shared a love of Old English sheepdogs and raised nine dogs through the course of their marriage.

An avid skier who loved the mountains, Eric spent his last years in Summit County, Colorado, with a great view of the Rockies.

Eric is survived by his brother Gary, his children Amanda, Luke, Ben and Mandy, and his grandchildren Chloe, Kira, James and Charlotte.

A memorial service for Eric Johnson will be held on Saturday, January 14th at 2:00pm at Nassau Presbyterian Church in Princeton, NJ. In lieu of flowers, the family would be grateful for donations to the Trenton Children’s Chorus, which was founded by Eric’s late wife Sue Ellen ( https://www.capitalharmony.works/tcc ), or to Nassau Presbyterian Church ( www.nassauchurch.org ).

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Eric Johnson, Ph.D, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Memorial Service

Saturday, January 14, 2023

Starts at 2:00 pm (Mountain (no DST) time)

Nassau Presbyterian Church

61 Nassau St, Princeton, NJ 08542

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